House tax leader says no to Senate-approved bill to cut Earned Income Tax Credit

Topeka  The Kansas House's tax leader on Wednesday rejected a Senate-approved bill that would cut nearly in half the state portion of the Earned Income Tax Credit, which is aimed at helping low-income, working families.

Rep. Richard Carlson, R-St. Marys, and chairman of the House Taxation Committee, said the cut in the EITC was too controversial to consider at this time.

On Tuesday, the Senate approved cutting the EITC by approximately $40 million and shifting those revenues to expand the Homestead Property Tax Refund program.

Supporters of the move said the legislation would help low-income homeowners and senior citizens on fixed incomes. They said some people were losing their homes because they couldn't pay their property taxes.

Opponents of the bill said it was taking money from one group of poor people to give to another group of poor people.

The measure was approved in the Senate, 25-15, with only Republican support.

But Carlson, who is currently negotiating with the Senate on several major tax proposals, said the cut in the EITC was too controversial in the House and would weigh down other tax bills if put in one package.

Sister Therese Bangert, of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, who has been fighting to preserve the EITC said she was happy to hear Carlson's comments.

"It thrilled me to hear the House say they're not interested in trading off the Earned Income Tax revenues for the Homestead Property Tax."

She added, "I hope this will push the Legislature to look at the issue — if indeed the elderly are losing their homes because of high property tax rates — I hope they will look at that."

More than 200,000 Kansas families receive the EITC and the average state portion is $389 per household. The bill would have reduced the Kansas EITC from 17 percent of the federal credit to 9 percent.

Comments

Thank you Rep Carlson for backing away from bad legislation. Yes, this is controversial.
Finally someone who refuses to punish the working poor. Thank you Sister Bangert and thanks to the Senator who dared to say "I am the working poor."

Guys, this wasn't sensibility on Carlson's part. It was simply recognition that so many controversial laws have been passed this year that he did not want to push the envelope any longer. Look for this to re-emerge next year as a continuation of the quashing of the Kansas poor. There is no compassion of sensibility in the Kansas republican party, but they are really good at smoke and mirrors.

And, with the help of all those who don't really follow Kansas political skulduggery, it will continue to be the same next year.

You are right, of course, but it does show that they recognize people are catching on and next year they will be facing reelection. We MUST NOT let them forget that we are watching and we must continue to get the word out. By next year the economic crisis will be hurting a lot of people.

That's probably true. Next year I expect they'll ban abortions prior to the twentieth week before conception, decree that all schools teach the controversy about the flatnes of the Earth, mandate that all schoolchildren carry firearms, and rename the Capitol building the Koch and ALEC Model Legislation Dispenser.